Hitching device.



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HITGHING DEVICE.

(Application filed Dec. 29, 1897.,

(No Model.)

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` by becoming entangled in the strap.

vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES JACOBS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

HITCHING DEVIC.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent Ne. 637,795, dated 'November 2s, 189e.

Application iiled December 29, 1897. Serial No. 664,325. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

I Be it known that I, CHARLES JACOBS. residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Hitching Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of hitching devices the object of which is to provide a simple and improved device adapted to holding the hitching device wound Within the holder when not in use and keep the same at all times taut when attached to the horse, yet permitting the free movement of the latter and not interfering With his eating or lying down and also preventing any injury thereto In this class of devices it has been found desirable to provide a suitable stop which can be secured upon the strap at any given point from its outer end, and thus leave a predetermined length of strap normally extending from the casing. Recognizing this I provide a suitable plate adapted to normally rest upon or abut against the casing and provided with a slot registering with a corresponding -slot in the casing, said plate being secured upon the strap, as mentioned above and as will be more fully mentioned hereinafter.

The invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and afterward specifically pointed out in the claim.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, having reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of my hitching device. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. et is a perspective view of the removable end piece of the drum. Eig. 5 is a similar view of t-he hub of the drum and the fixed end piece. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the socket for the shaft.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the ures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A indicates a spherical casing consisting of various gthe sections B and C, having overlapping fianges D formed on their meeting edges, through which the securing-screws E pass and secure the two sections together.

F is an attaching-plate which is secured to the stall or other support by screws or nails G and provided with the central opening H, which is flared or enlarged on the inner side thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

I is a bolt or stein which at one end passesl through section B of the casing and is screw threaded to receive the nut J and the washer K upon the inner side ot' the section and formed with the annular flange or shoulder L, which bears against the outer side of said section. Upon the opposite end of the stem or bolt is formed a tapered head M, which is positioned within the tapered or flared opening H of plate F, so that the casing is Swiveled to said attaching-plate.

Sectional sockets N are provided on the in ner side of the casing on opposite sides of its center, one section of each socket being carried by each of the sections B and C and havh ing square openings O to receive the squared ends P of the shaft Q. A drum is loosely mounted upon the shaft within the casing, said drum consisting of the hollow hub R, having at one end the fixed end piece or flange S, and provided adjacent its opposite end with the interior annular shoulder T to receive the annular flange U, carried by the removable end piece V, said flange itting Within the tubular hub and abutting against the annular shoulder, screws W securing the hub and removable end piece together. This drum is held upon the shaft by the collars W', as illustrated in Fig. 3, and is formed upon its exterior with a projection a, having a recess b to receive the inner end of the bitching-strap c, which is secured therein and adapted to be wound about said drum, the opposite end of the strap passing through an opening a7, formed in section C of the casing. A stop is provided for the outer end of the strap to prevent the same from being entirely wound upon the drum and to leave a predetermined length of strap normally extending from the casing. This stop consists of the plate e, adapted to abut against the casing, said plate having an opening extending therethrough to receive the strap, and with a projection f formed on IOO k'its outer' side, which is also provided with an opening through which the strap passes, a pin g extending through said projection land engaging the strap at any desired point, so that the stop is adjustable.

' For holding the strap normally Wound uponI thedrumV I provide the spring h, one end of which is secured to the shaft and the opposite end to the hub of the drum, said spring being coiled about the shaft within the hollow hub. kThe end pieces of thehub close the opening thereto, and thusprevent any dirt or other ob structions passing to the spring.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced an improved hitching device in which the strap is held normally Wound within the holder, excepting 'a predetermined length, which is held normally prol jeeted by means of the adjustable stop, said device permitting the free movementofthe horse in eating or in lying down, and have also swiveled the-holder, so that it maybe turned in any direction, the device being simple in construction andfeective in operation. While I have illustrated and described the best means now known to me for carrying out my invention, I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the exact detailsof construction shown and described, but hold that any slight changes or variations, such as might suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic, will properlylfall within the limit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,-

, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is`

Ina bitching device the combination with the sem'ispherical sections A and B integral with one of which are the journal-bearings,'a

journal-shaft mounted in said bearings, a rotatingdrum mounted on theshaft, a coilspring surronndingsaid journal-'shaft one end yof Which is secured to the shaft and the other end' secured to the interior Wallof the rotating drum, a recessed projection carried by the exterior of said drum, a bitching-strap having its end secured in said recessed proje'ction and adapted to be Wound upon the drum, a slotted plate normally resting on one of thesemispherical sections and registering with kan opening therein, through'which the free end of the strap 'is adapted to pass, and a pin designed to pass through the plate trans= versely of the slot and engage the stra-p substantially as described.

CHARLES JACOBS.

Witnesses:

' A. GERNLEIN,

JOHN MCOANN. 

